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BBC's new director of nations and regions to appear on Salford panel

by David Prior

Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark will chair a panel featuring the BBC’s new director of nations and regions and Channel 4’s head of factual for a debate on the future of broadcasting.

The debate, taking place at the University of Salford’s MediaCityUK campus on Tuesday November 15th, will see Wark and a panel of leading media industry figures discussing a range of broadcasting and production issues affecting the nations and regions.

Kirsty Wark will host the panel

The panel features:

Ken MacQuarrie, in his first public speaking role since being appointed as the BBC Director of Nations and Regions in September

Ralph Lee, Deputy Chief Creative Officer, Channel 4

Rebecca Hodgson, Head of Drama at Liverpool-based Lime Pictures

Rebecca Root, actor and star of Britain's first transgender comedy Boy Meets Girl which was set in Newcastle

Marverine Cole, former Sky News presenter, journalist and Midlands-based TV and radio producer

Ellin Rhys, Creative Director / Managing Director of Wales-based radio and TV production company Telesgop

The discussion will be recorded in front of an invited audience of leading industry professionals for broadcast on BBC Radio 5 live later in the week.

Beth Hewitt, festival director for the University of Salford, said: "The changes facing the broadcast industry, particularly in the wake of Brexit, are the subject of much debate and so it’s very exciting that this Nations and Regions Media debate is taking place here at The University of Salford with Kirsty Wark at the helm.”

The debate is being held ahead of the 23rd Nations and Regions Media Conference (NARM), which will take place in spring 2017 and will tackle some of the key issues that are vexing broadcasters and producers across the UK.

Nations and Regions Media Conference 2017 is hosted by University of Salford and supported by newly appointed steering committee chair Ruth Pitt, and will take place at The Lowry arts centre in Salford on March 28-29.